Any good coach or educator can talk about the importance of sound fundamentals. But a couple of those people at one school have applied those fundamentals to recruiting.

California University of Pennsylvania Director of Athletics Tom Pucci and Karen Hjerpe, athletics business manager and senior woman administrator at the school,  developed an online course targeting counselors, coaches, administrators, principals, students, potential student-athletes and parents interested in intercollegiate athletics.

Launched this fall, “Fundamentals of the Recruiting Process for College-Bound Student-Athletes” is an eight-week course consisting of 12 modules on topics such as NCAA academic requirements for freshman eligibility, an overview of the recruiting process and financial aid. Each incorporates an exam and a discussion topic.

Participants can take one of two options: a workshop version for three continuing education credits at a cost of $350, or a for-credit edition, which translates into three collegiate credit hours, for $716. There also is a $25 application fee, regardless of the selected option.

“This is to try to educate people — counselors, coaches, parents — about the recruiting process and what it’s going to take for student-athletes to be eligible throughout their college experience,” said Pucci.

Hjerpe said she and Pucci also wanted to make people aware of resources such as Student-Athlete Advisory Committees and CHAMPS/Life Skills programs.

So far, Pucci said, about 300 participants have completed the course and the spring 2006 sections are full. The next available opportunity to take the class is during the summer sessions.

For more information or to enroll, go to www.cup.edu, click on the athletics department link and go to ATE101.

Northern Illinois birthday card comes with a letter

In June 1943, Richard Fitzgerald enlisted in the Marines. In the fall of that same year, the freshman played halfback in five of Northern Illinois University’s six football games before being called to active service in World War II.

Fitzgerald missed the remaining game that year, and as it turns out, he also missed out on receiving his letter. That oversight was rectified earlier this month, though, 63 years later.

During a special ceremony at halftime of the school’s January 3 men’s basketball game, Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, Northern Illinois Director of Athletics Jim Phillips, current head football coach Joe Novak and about 20 members of Fitzgerald’s family were on hand to honor him with his varsity letter just one day shy of his 80th birthday.

Fitzgerald’s daughter said talks with family members prompted her father’s memory of the unclaimed letter. Although his mother had forwarded his letterman’s certificate before he departed for service, Fitzgerald said he sent it back and forgot about it. His daughter-in-law began the recent chain of events when she e-mailed the school and explained the situation.

Fitzgerald was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1946 and graduated from Bradley University in 1950.

Ohio State athlete gives military instruction a shot

As if earning a spot on the Ohio State University rifle team isn’t indication enough of just how good a marksman Sam Ohlinger is, then perhaps his serving as an instructor in the U.S. Army will do.

The Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) enlisted the assistance of the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) to identify volunteers to help train soldiers on advanced marksmanship principles. Because the initiative to increase marksmanship proficiency was so large, the CMP invited about 50 top civilian shooters, including Ohlinger, to a training program last June. Just over half were chosen by the AMU to become military rifle instructors.

Ohlinger worked directly with the Army’s 82nd Airborne, the most frequently deployed unit in that branch of the military, from December 12 through 16 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

At 19, Ohlinger was the youngest shooter to apply for and receive the opportunity. He also was the only college student  chosen as an instructor. Ohlinger has participated in military-style shooting competitions for the past six years and earned a trophy as the best civilian service rifle shooter from the state of Ohio during the 2005 National Matches.